Paris Saint-Germain withdraws from Ayoub Bouaddi pursuit on Luis Enrique's orders

Media reports have revealed that Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning French league champions, have withdrawn from the race to sign Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi, the Lille star, following a decision by Spanish head coach Luis Enrique.

According to French newspaper L'Équipe on Tuesday, Luis Enrique requested that the club not proceed with the signing of Bouaddi, who is 18 years old.

The newspaper reported that the Spanish coach believes bringing in the Moroccan player could impact the opportunities available to young players already at Paris Saint-Germain, noting that "Enrique is keen to ensure a clear pathway for the club's current youth players."

Ayoub Bouaddi has attracted interest from several major European clubs after catching the eye with his performances for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, making him one of the most sought-after names in the transfer market.

Manchester City is reportedly leading the list of clubs interested in signing the young midfielder, who is under contract with Lille until 2029.

Bouaddi's market value is estimated at around 50 million euros according to Transfermarkt, while reports indicate that Lille has set a price tag of 100 million euros to agree to his departure.